Informed consent research report

Abstract

This report highlights flaws in obtaining consent in the Australian communications industry.

The report found that inconsistent and unsatisfactory consent requirements are scattered throughout a mix of telecommunication laws and industry codes of conduct. In many key cases consent requirements are absent entirely. Regulators, complaints schemes and community organisations are receiving over 40,000 consent complaints each year regarding communications companies. Information provided to consumers regarding communications products – such as mobile phone and Internet subscriptions – ranged from zero information right through to 57 pages of detailed legal jargon.